The Return of the Female Knight

CHAPTERS 101

'…What is this?'

Elena stared questioningly at Carlisle's finely sculpted face. His hand slowly descended as he set his hair, then his fingers traced the woman's jaw. It was an action where he could barely feel his touch, but even so, small ripples pulsed in his mind.

"I'm sorry, but I don't think I'm gonna lose my anxiety over you."

"…!"

"I can't stand the Empress trying to hurt you in front of me."

"… Caril."

Apart from Elena's soft voice, Carlisle pushed forward stubbornly.

"I don't understand what you're thinking right now. But there is one thing you ignore. ”

"…What is it?"

"Your safety."

"I care about it—"

“No, every time I see you so far, you don't seem to appreciate yourself. I'm not going to ask why you want to be empress again, but remember this one thing. “

There was a deep emotion in Carlisle's eyes that he couldn't identify.

"Without you .. nothing."

Kung kung kung.

The small ripples in Elena's mind became huge waves, and her red eyes widened. He never thought he would say such words to her. Elena was ready to jump into the campfire holding a can of oil, but it was as if Carlisle had told her to value herself first.

"…"

He found it hard to juggle something to say. After what he had heard so far, should he be angry at her? Should he try to stop her from worrying? Or maybe…

Should he say thank you?

Elena's mind was tangled in her head, and her expression hardened as if she was doused in cold water. Carlisle seemed to have mistaken his expression, and he lowered his hand with a bitter smile.

"I'll see you at dinner tonight."

It was part of their contract to eat together every day. Carlisle parted ways first, with the appointment of the next meeting.

Ttubeog tubeogeu—

He stood frozen in place, staring at Carlisle's back until he disappeared.

'… Why does he sound like that? '

It wasn't the first time Carlisle had worried about Elena. But this time it felt different. He said there was nothing without him, and in his ear it sounded like, "You're more important than anything."

Maybe that's a too generous interpretation. But whatever it means .. it moves Elena's heart.

Kung kung kung kung.

His heart was pounding on his ribs. She didn't know the name of the emotion when Carlisle touched her hair, but she knew now.

It was a "sensation".

*

*

*

After Elena's wedding, Blaise's house is full of activities. The one who finds himself the busiest is butler Michael.

"Are you ready to enter the palace tomorrow?"

Mary replied with a strong nod.

"Yes." Yeah."

The wedding was over, some servants were preparing to arrive at the Imperial Palace to attend to Elena. Often when a noble gets married, they take on familiar servants from their own families, and Elena, as the Crown Princess, will need more people to take care of her comfortably.

"The waiters are almost ready …"

The list of servants that went to the Imperial Palace was already taken care of by Elena. However, some of the other servants did not know Elena very well, and she handed it to Michael to choose those who could be trusted. Michael didn't think too much about it, and told the Blaise family that they needed more help in the Imperial Palace …

Kuhn, who had been hired some time ago, volunteered. Michael remembers how Mirabelle's face was like death when he found out, and he pressed his fingers against her temple.

"What will happen …"

Mary, who was standing before Michael, widened her eyes.

"Hm? Whatdidyou say?"

"Ti-none …."

Michael makes sure that Mary is full, then moves on to check out the other maid's room.

"Rest well, Mary."

"Yes thank you."

Michael finally left the restroom.

Kkiig, no!

The door closed with a loud click, and Mary turned to the suitcase she had wrapped, a complicated expression on her face. He didn't have much, because he was given daily necessities by the family he served.

"…good."

Mary sighed, and then took out the thing she had secretly hidden inside the suitcase. It was a letter from Tilda that suddenly arrived last night. Tilda is Sophie's friend, and currently works at Lady Selby. He has also worked for the Blaise family.

"Why is he sending me a letter now?"

He had not opened the envelope, and he wondered what was inside. When Tilda receives a sudden letter from Sophie, Tilda tore up Elena's dress and runs away.

A letter sat in front of Mary. He hesitated to read the contents, but throwing them away felt like ignoring the friendship they had built. Mary considered telling Elena about it first, but she was worried it would be a mistake.

'okay. I'll just look at it, and I'll tell him if anything's weird. '

Completely resolved, Mary finally opened the sealed envelope.

Mirabelle suddenly surprises her when she finds out that Kuhn is going to the palace. He had set his mind and decided to go on a picnic with Kuhn, but now he felt as if everything was falling apart.

"Kuhn, are you really going to the palace?"

Kuhn answered immediately, even though Mirabelle's voice was shaking.

"Yes." Yeah."

His clear, green eyes trembled even deeper in his answer.

"Pay well …"

"Then I will pay you better than the Imperial Palace."

"…"

Kuhn stared at Mirabelle's determined face before a thin sigh escaped from her mouth. He failed to catch the mouse hiding in Blaise's house, and now that Elena was married, the mouse would naturally follow him to the palace. Kuhn should do the same. He had to complete his original mission, but now there was an unfathomable hurdle unfolding in front of him.

"What am I supposed to do here?"

Kuhn felt the gazes of some servants as they walked past him. Although the servants were a bit far away, his sensitive ears managed to catch their conversation.

"Look, Young Miss with that waitress again."

"I knew. I think it's true that she's in love with him. "

Mirabelle's intense affection has put Kuhn in the limelight at Blaise's home. He could not hold his breath anymore.

"… Haaa."

Mirabelle looked at him in wonder.

"Kuhn's? Oho! ”

Mirabelle was about to open her mouth to speak when—

Tags, hwiig!

Kuhn grabbed his shoulder and quickly pushed him to a place no one else could see. He was quickly pushed into the dark shed, with a hard wall on his back and Kuhn's face right in front of him. That's a strange position. Mirabelle's eyes widened further in embarrassment.

"I-ini—"

"Shhh. Or someone else will see. "

Kuhn's low voice caused her cheeks to change color, but she managed to calm down.

"What difference does it make if other people see us?"

"They will gossip about the close relationship between master and servant."

"The waiters in my family didn't do that—"

“Everything is the same. Follow my advice so you don't get involved in scandals. ”

Mirabelle's face shriveled as she pondered her words, but Kuhn simply looked at her with a delicate expression.

"… I'll be more careful in the future."

“Please remember that. Anyway, I'm going to the palace. "

"Why? Did I do something wrong?"

Mirabelle sneered at him like an abandoned puppy. Kuhn furrowed her brows as she looked and swallowed the words she could not utter.

"You're the problem."

The hostess could not err the servant, and she could not be criticized for the mistakes she made. Such was the glorious society, and that was the gulf between Mirabelle and Kuhn's position.

"This relationship with you is rather uncomfortable, Young Miss."

Actually, Kuhn needed to return to the Imperial Palace to complete her mission for Carlisle. Mirabelle's behavior towards her had nothing to do with her disappearance, but it was a convenient excuse, even if it hurt her. After all, the relationship between the two was just a fantasy from the start.

Mirabelle's face paled.

"My actions make you uncomfortable?"

"Yes. I don't want people staring and gossiping about me, and I don't feel comfortable with someone who knows my past. I want to start a new course in the palace, where no one knows me at all. "

That's a perfect and reasonable excuse. Kuhn thought that was enough, but Mirabelle turned out to be very stubborn.

"… I don't like that."

"…?"

"Even if you're uncomfortable .. stick to it."

Kuhn looked surprised as if someone dropped his head.

“I'll be more careful now because I know what the problem is. You still have the rest of the time in your employment contract, and .. and I'll give you a raise, as I said. Oho! We can also make other tasks easier if you want. "

Mirabelle started babbling, but it was a futile distraction from Kuhn's point of view.

"…Young woman."

Mirabelle's face stiffened as she knew what her gentle tone meant.

"You can't go anywhere unless I let you. You contracted with Blaise's house for a year. "

Kuhn. But he's not wrong. He signed it on his contract.

"… So I won't send you. Don'tgo. "

Mirabelle clutched Kuhn's collar in a childish manner, in stark contrast to the firmness of her previous words. He gave orders like royalty and completely ignored his thoughts, but he was gripped in despair. Kuhn looked alternately between her thin hands and quivering green eyes.

He didn't know what to do with a little girl like this bird.

*

*

*

Batori was busy packing her belongings when she was chosen to go to the Imperial Palace. Instead of volunteering and arousing suspicion, he had planned to arrange an "accident" for a servant so that he could replace them. Fortunately, the vacancy opened without him needing to do anything, and Batori was able to save herself from the venture.

"Hmm, hmm ~"

Batori sings a happy little song to herself when—

Kkiiige.

The door opened and Kuhn entered the room with them. The dark-haired man looked rather grim today, but Batori welcomed him with her usual bright appearance.

"Hey ~ Are you there?"

"…"

Kuhn sat on her bed with no answer. Kuhn often ignores Batori's attempts to talk to him, so Batori gets used to it.

"Surprisingly I like him being careful with his words."

Batori could lure anyone in, and could easily infiltrate as a jewelry store clerk. That was quite in line with his talent. Artificial smiles, artificial actions, artificial conversations. Batori showed considerable skill in it, but strangely she was attracted to this man who was just a few words away. It almost felt as if he was looking for someone of his own kind. Batori smiled at that thought.

"If she infiltrates Blaise's house like I. .. that's too obvious."